Method of cleaning lubricant cases of engines



Patented Mar. 18, 1930 I UNITED .STATES PATENT orl-"lca WILLIAM L. OSBORNE, 011 LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND mnsnn ASSIGNMENTS, '10 OSBORNE PRO A CCBPORATION OF CALIFORNIA CESS, INC., OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA,

METH OD CLEANING LUBRICANT CASES OF ENGINES I 80 Drawing.

The present invention relates more particularly to a method for cleaning lubricant cases of engines, particularly crank cases, transmission and differential cases of motor vehicles such as automobiles, trucks and the like.

The invention in its broader aspects, is

adaptedfor use in cleaning lubricant cases tion in level being accurately controlled to accomplish the purposes of the invention, as will be hereinafter more particularly discussed.

I In use and operation, it has been found that when a flushing oil is drained from a lubricant containing case, sediment will collect in the form of a skin along the side walls. This is naturally objectionable, and in the present invention has for one of its objects the prevention of this sediment formation by maintalining a liquid level and lowering it gradual y. I

The utility as well as other objects of the invention, will'be more particularly brought out in the following description.

The process is carried out by first draining from the lubricant containing case the used and dirty lubricant. Structure such as that illustrated and described in my issued United States Patent No. 1,633,283, dated June 21, 1927, may be utilizedto carry out the proc ess of the present invention, but it is to be particularly understood that the practice of the process is not limited to the particular type of structure illustrated in said patent, as the broad'concept of the invention resides in a process capable of being carried out in any type of apparatus. This dirty lubricant may i be passed to suitable storage. A charge of cleaning or flushing oil, sav from one to two allons, more or less, may be then introduced into the lubricant containing case. Before the introduction of this cleaning or flushing liq-' uid, an adjustable plug and valve such as illus- Application filed February 14, 1927. Serial No. 168,246."

trated in my co-pending application, Serial,

No. 168,586, filedFeb. 16, 1927, may be detachand filter, may be connected to the'lubricantcontaining case in such a manner as to cause a contlnuous cyclic clrculation of said flushing liquid between the pump and the lubricant containing case, the flushing liquid being continuously filtered during each cyclic circulation. The amount of flushing liquid discharged from the lubricant containing case is controlled of course, by the extent to which the valve is opened.

As a feature of the present invention during this cyclic-circulatiom'it is advisable to maintain varying levels of flushing liquid in the lubricant containing case. This varying of the levelis definitely controlledfand may be defined in three stages. Initially, it is advisable that a greater quantity of flushing liquid be introduced to the lubricant containing case than withdrawn in order to build up a level to substantially fill the case. After the cyclic circulation has been in'operati on for a length of time sufiicient to dislodge a substantial portion of the impurities and foreign matters from the lubricant containing case,

it is then desirable to gradually lower the liquid level. in order to drain the casing of the flushing liquid. During this second stage,v

this is very definitely controlled by introducing a lesser quantity'than the quantity withdrawn, which of course, can be definitely controlled by the proper regulation of the valve and pump. During this second stage, and while the level is gradually being lowered, the agitation of the fiushing liquid duein part to the pressure of the pump, and the parts moving within the lubricant containing case prevents a quiescent condition of the flushing liquid thereby preventing the precipitation vof the'obj ectionable residue referred to above,

along the side walls of the case.

When the lever has been loweredto a point immediately adjacent the discharge, or even when the flushing liquid has been substantial 1y completely withdrawn from the case, it may be found that some precipitation has taken place in the lower portion of the case, and more particularly in the channel of flow. This may be washed out and removed very effectively by then, during the last stage of the rocess, introducing flushing liquid either rom the cyclic circulatory system or a fresh A charge from another source to accomplish this final flushing. whenthe-case has been thoroughly flushed as above described, the adjustable plug is removed, the permanent plug closing the outlet drain is put back in place, a fresh charge of lubricating oil then placed in the case, and the case is ready for operation. The process is characterized its efiiciency in preventing this undesirable accumulation of residue, which efliciency is directly due to the careful control of the liquid level.

It is to be understood that I do notdesire ;to be limited to any particular form of apparatus, the present invention being restricted solely to a method whereby through control of the liquid level of flushing liquid in a lubricant containing case, the objectionable formation of precipitants is prevented, and the interior of the case efficiently and thoroughly cleaned. I claim as my invention: v 1. A method of cleaning lubricant con- 'tainers, which comprises first removing the used lubricant and preventing the return of any substantial portion thereof to said container, thereafter introducing flushing liquid thereto, no substantial portion of which had previously been introduced to said container,

. thereafter circulating repeatedly said flushing liquid to and from the container under pressure, lni-tially building up a liquid level of said flushing liquid in said container by :continuously introducing a eater quantity, of flushing liquid while simu taneouslywithdrawing a. lesser quantity of flushing liquid,

continuing said cii'culation until the container is cleaned, tlferea ter gradually lowering the liquid level therein and finally withdrawing r all of said flushing liquid from said container.

2. A method of cleaning lubricant con'-' tamers, whlch comprises removing used lubricant therefrom and preventing the return of any substantial portion thereof to said contalner, then introducing thereto a quantity of flushing hquld no substantial portion of which had previously been introduced to said container,'building u 'a liquid level of said flushln liquid in sai container by introducing sai flushing liquid while simultaneously withdrawing lesser quantity thereof, in reflushing liquid in lesser quantity, and in filially draining all of said flushing liquid from pea-tedly circulating said flushing liquid to and from the containerunder pressure, thereafter lowerin the liquid level of said flushing liquid in sai container by withdrawing a greater quantity of flushing liquid while simultaneously introducing flushing liquid in lesser quantity, and in finally draining all of said flushing liquid from said container and preventing the return of any substantialportion thereof to said container.

3., A method of cleaning lubricant containers, which comprises removing used lubricant therefromand preventing the return of any substantial portionthereof to said container, then introducing thereto a quantity of flushing liquid, no substantial portion of which had revlously been introduced to said container, uilding up a liquid level of said said container and preventing the return of any substantial portion thereof to said container. P

4,. A process such as claimed in claim 2, further characterized in that said flushing liquid is agitated during a substantial portion of the time itis in the container.

WILLIAM L. OSBORNE. 

